What to Expect in an Enhanced Pregnancy
Chapter 31: What to Expect in an Enhanced Pregnancy.
Reed look at the couple in complete disbelief. "I-I'm sorry. What?"
Peter smirked as he replied, "You heard me. Cindy's pregnant Reed. I think it was pretty clear the first time she said it."
The leader of the Fantastic Four still looked at them in surprise and shock. "Really?" he asked as he turned his head to Cindy. Cindy smiled as she nodded; she found that she couldn't find the words to express her joy, a joy that she couldn't have found without Peter consoling her on that morning. Reed looked back and forth between the couple a few more times before his shocked demeanor disappeared and turned into a grin. "Well, I must say, that is great news. Congratulations to the both of you! I'm sure you two will make excellent parents! But wait...why are you telling me this? I would have expected you to tell either Anna or Janet or Jessica or someone else before me."
Right now, Peter, Cindy, and Reed were in one of the many lounges within the Baxter Building. Earlier, after two days of joy with the news of a child of the way, Peter and Cindy visited Aunt May and Cindy's family to tell them the news. When they heard the news, May, Nari, and Albert Sr. were overjoyed over the fact that they were going to be grandparents while Albert Jr. Was surprised that he was going to be an uncle so soon. Afterwards they broke the news, Peter wanted to take Cindy to the doctor to check on her condition, but there was a problem. If anyone sees them going to the doctor, the media will go crazy on them, and they did not want that, especially Cindy. So, Peter and Cindy decided to meet Reed since he knows about enhanced individuals and for some privacy from the press.
"Well, Reed...um, the thing is...," Cindy stuttered, "well...okay, seeing that I got bitten by the same radioactive spider that bit Peter, both of us have spider powers and we're enhanced at this point. I'm not sure how that is going to affect the pregnancy, the baby, and me."
"Oh," Reed said in realization. "I see what you mean. Well then...I think I can help with that."
About ten minutes later, Peter, Cindy, and Reed were in the Baxter's Building infirmary wing, where a bunch of medical equipment was there, which included some that specialize in pregnancy. Right now, Cindy was lying on a medical tabletop, her midriff exposed as Reed applied the cold gel on her. Cindy had to admit, this was a new feeling for her, and she didn't think that Reed would know about this kind of situation. But she trusted him and his knowledge. She squeezed Peter's hand so gently, that she just realized that she was holding it. Peter gave her a reassuring smile.
"Okay. So, what both of you need to know that once your child is born, he or she will grow at the same rate as a human child in terms of physical growth, maturity, and the rest. However, since you two are already enhanced by the same radioactive spider, the baby will probably inherit your powers and your enhanced traits."
"So, what you're practically saying is that our child will be a mini version of us combined," Peter smirked.
"If you want to put it in basic terms, then yes," Reed smirked back.
"Well that's good to know," Cindy said with a sigh and a smile creeping on her face. Reed finished applying the gel and prepared the sonogram. "What about pregnancy term length?"
"Relatively the same as a normal human's."
Peter let out a sigh. "For a second there, I thought it would be different."
Reed let out a chuckle after hearing that. "Relax, even if your genetics may be altered, it doesn't affect the amount of time the pregnancy takes," he said as he began the sonogram, running the apparatus along Cindy's exposed midriff, the coldness drowning her in goose bumps. "However, considering that you two's metabolism are enhanced, Cindy may experience larger cravings than anyone else. Ah, there it is."
As Peter, Cindy, and Reed looked at the monitor, what they saw shocked them. On the monitor of the sonogram was two small figures floating in Cindy's womb. There, before their eyes, was their children.
"Oh my god..." Cindy gasped. She never would have believed that this day would come. Her lips broke out into a smile of pure joy. She...she was going to be a mother of twins. A mother of a pair of twins. The idea finally sunk in as she clutched Peter's hand even tighter. "Peter..." she said with a gasp.
"Yes...we're going to be parents of twins," Peter said at a loss of words. He never expected this to happen. While he knew about Cindy's pregnancy, he was surprised that Cindy was carrying twins. It didn't stop him from having a smile on his face though.
"Alright then. Now we'll check the genders for each kid," Reed said. After a few minutes, the results came in. "Okay. I checked the results of each of the kids, and one kid is a boy while the other is a girl."
Peter and Cindy smiled at Reed's words. "I think we're going to have mini versions of us running around the apartment," Cindy jokingly said. Peter and Reed imagined that and laughed softly at the thought of a mini Peter and a mini Cindy in their apartment.
"Now," Reed said as he stopped laughing, "Since the pregnancy is going to last about nine months, Cindy, you might want to take it easy and focus on the twins. For the first few months, you can go on patrol, but you can only focus on small crimes and such. Don't go up against any of Peter's rogues. However, after that few months are gone, you need to lay off from the crime fighting and focus on the twins. That's when the development for the twins reaches critical level as your body will focus more on the twins. From that point on, it will be much more vulnerable despite your enhanced durability."
Cindy was at a loss of words at what Reed just said.
"So basically, Cindy only has a few months of freedom left," Peter said.
"Yes."
Cindy was still at a loss of words. "Cindy? Are you okay?" Peter asked.
Cindy snapped out of her trance. "Huh? Oh, yeah. Sorry, I'm just shocked at what I've been told."
"Relax Cindy. Just take your time."
As Cindy took a few breaths and took in what Reed told her, she then asked, "So that means no patrol during most of the pregnancy correct?"
"Yes," Reed replied.
"Ok then."
Just then, the door to the infirmary opened.
"Hey Reed, I heard Peter and Cindy came by earlier. Did you know where they went...oh..."
Susan stared at the scene in front of her in complete silence and utter surprise. Her eyes darted back and forth between Peter, Cindy, Reed, the sonogram monitor, and the apparatus on Cindy's midriff.
"Hey sis, did you find them yet?"
Behind her was Johnny and Ben as they entered the room. As they did, they stopped dead in their tracts and their jaws fell to the ground in reaction to the scene in front of them.
Peter and Cindy were just as surprised as their friends walked in on them, seeing a secret they were hoping to reveal later. Silence was still in the air for a few more seconds.
"Oh my, Cindy's...pregnant," Ben said.
"You're really pregnant?" Susan asked.
"Uh...yeah?" Cindy replied sheepishly with a smile.
"Wow. Congratulations you two," Johnny said.
"Thanks," Peter said sheepishly. "We were hoping to tell you guys later..."
"Oh, don't you worry, leave that to me," Susan said teasingly. She then left the entrance.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Peter said after hearing Susan's tone of voice.
"Me too," Cindy replied.
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